The penultimate fixture of the season and final meeting in Abu Dhabi on Thursday should see the UAE jockeys' and trainers' championship titles decided.
Tadhg O’Shea is eight winners ahead of Antonio Fresu as he bids for a 10th jockeys' title while Bhupat Seemar is also eight clear of Doug Watson and Ernst Oertel in the race for the trainers' championship.
O’Shea and Fresu are booked to ride in all 13 races across two days, concluding with the season’s final meeting in Al Ain on Friday.
However, Seemar has only one thoroughbred race in Abu Dhabi against Oertel’s 10 entries across the two days.
The highlight in Abu Dhabi’s six-race card is the Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown Round-3, the third and final round of the series for four-year-olds run over the 2,400-metre distance.
Helal Al Alawi is double handed with Izadi Star, who made a winning local debut in the Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown Round-2, and the runner-up Kalifano De Ghazal.
Third and fourth in that race for trainer Ibrahim Al Hadhrami is Sattam Muscat, the mount of Fresu, and Bahar Muscat. O’Shea is on board the UAE Arabian Derby runner up AF Mualami.
O’Shea is also the retained jockey for the UAE owners champion elect Khalid Khalifa Al Naboodah whose horses are trained by Oertel.
“I have only one ride for Bhupat but 10 for Ernst, and I’ll try to win as many as I can,” O’Shea said.
“Regardless who wins the trainers' championship title, they have both had a very good season. For whoever I ride, I do my best. Hopefully I can get a few winners for them.”
The only thoroughbred contest and final race on the card is a 1,400m handicap that brings down the curtain on the Abu Dhabi season.
Seemar, looking increasingly likely to finish his maiden season with a licence as champion trainer, has five entered with Ranchero the choice of O’Shea.
Abu Dhabi card
5pm Al Bithna – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m
5.30pm Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm Al Hayl – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
6.30pm Al Qor – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
7pm Arabian Triple Crown Round-3 – Group 3 (P) Dh300,000 (T) 2,400m
7.30pm Al Khari – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
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“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
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FIXTURES
December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
